Hot tea, hot chocolate or hot coffee

Which is better: Hot tea, hot chocolate or hot coffee

One of the great joys that comes with the cooler weather is snuggling on the couch with your favorite person and enjoying a nice hot drink. But if you are concerned about your health and the health of your teeth, you may be wondering which is better: hot tea, hot chocolate or hot coffee?

Read on for some health benefits and health costs of each, compliments of Dr. Carl Medgaus and the staff of Medgaus Dental Care!

Hot coffee

First, the good news for those coffee addicts out there. Some research has shown that the caffeine in coffee can help to prevent skin cancer, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Other research says that coffee can even help to prevent gum disease. It is thought that this is because of the antioxidants it contains. Coffee, unlike other, more acidic beverages (such as fruit juice), also doesn’t weaken tooth enamel.

However, if you are concerned about how white your teeth are, coffee is a bad choice because it can stain your teeth. These stains also tend to attract food particles and bacteria. Coffee can hurt the lining of your stomach, and drinking it often can lead to heartburn. It makes irritable bowel syndrome gastritis, ulcers, Crohn’s disease and colitis even worse. And of course, the caffeine in coffee can affect how you sleep even hours after you had a cup.

Hot tea

Tea has less caffeine than coffee, and unlike coffee, it can be very good for digestion. You can even choose a kind of tea depending on your digestive problem. Peppermint tea, for instance, can help in the digestion of food. Ginger tea can improve digestion and relieve nausea. Tea with cinnamon can relieve gas, indigestion, heartburn, stomach cramps and nausea. Dandelion tea can relieve upset stomach, improve digestion and act as a mild laxative. And, tea made with lavender, mint, juniper, rosemary or fennel can help to relieve gas.

If you want to try tea to relieve digestive issues, however, you should speak to your doctor first. Some teas aren’t safe for all. For instance, pregnant women should not drink teas made from chamomile, dandelion, black cohosh or dried ginger. As far as your oral health, tea can stain your teeth. However, one study did find that brewed tea, such as green and black tea can help to improve oral health problems, such as gum disease.

Hot chocolate

You may be surprised to find that chocolate has many health benefits. Studies show that chocolate is good for your brain health and can make you think better; it has antioxidants that can reduce the risk of cancer, prevent heart disease, age-related macular degeneration, and premature aging; and it fights depression, anxiety and stress.

If you have a choice, you should make hot chocolate from scratch at home. Hot chocolate mixes only has a trace amount of vitamins and minerals. And, whether you make it from scratch or use a mix, hot chocolate has a large amount of sugar, which is bad for your waistline and your teeth.

If you have indulged in too much hot chocolate, hot coffee or hot tea, you may have some tooth pain or stains on your teeth. Call and make an appointment with Dr. Carl Medgaus at Medgaus Dental Care  in Pittsburgh or Monroeville, PA, today!

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